Rising defensive end Marcus Loud (Houston/Wheatley) committed to play in the SEC on May 30. Exactly four months later, he switched his commitment to play in the Pac-12.

Loud confirmed Sunday he has decommitted from Missouri and given his verbal pledge to Colorado. Loud made the switch after taking an official visit to Boulder, Colo., to watch the Buffaloes play UCLA.

So why would Loud, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound defensive end, make the commitment switch? His answer was relatively simple.

“I felt like it was the right thing to do,” Loud said.

Loud, who said he felt he rushed the decision on his original commitment, discussed three major factors that lured him to the Buffaloes. First, he was a fan of the family environment. He has built a very good relationship with his area recruiter, Colorado defensive ends/outside linebackers coach Kanavis McGhee. He also had a good time meeting several members of the Colorado football team by way of his player host, freshman running back Terrence Crowder, who played high school ball in Galena Park, Texas, outside of Houston.

“The team treated me as an equal, like I was already a part of the team,” Loud said. “Everybody else was really nice. The fans were cool. They all talked to me, and I felt like they wanted me to be there.”

Second, Loud said McGhee is looking to make Loud a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker in Colorado’s defensive scheme. Loud is a returning all-district player for Wheatley, and he is excited about the opportunity of being put in a versatile position.

Finally, Loud said it was how the Buffaloes handled Saturday’s 42-14 loss to UCLA. He was a fan of the team’s ability to stay positive and motivated.

“They didn’t give up. They had heart,” Loud said. “That’s a team I’d love to play with. I think we can do something big.”

In addition to Missouri, Loud had offers from Michigan State, TCU, Iowa State, Texas Tech and several other programs. The Colorado trip was his first official visit, but he also said it would be his only visit.

“I’m ready to go,” he said. “No matter where you put me, I’m going to make progress. I’m willing to get to work so I can be that true freshman on the field.”

Loud is Colorado’s 14th commit of the 2013 recruiting class. He is the first defensive end to commit.